Hummus Substitute

One popular hummus substitute uses roasted cauliflower.

Hummus, once considered an exotic dish in the United States, is now a staple, with Americans spending almost $300 million annually on commercially prepared hummus, reports Fox News. Made from a puree of chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, olive oil and tahini, hummus can be used as a sandwich spread, dip or topping for everything from chicken to potatoes. If you're following the Paleo diet, you may need to give up traditional hummus completely since the plan prohibits all beans and legumes. Additionally, people who are allergic to chickpeas or simply don't like their taste can't enjoy traditional hummus. With a few strategic substitutions, however, you can still have your hummus and eat it too.

Cauliflower-Based Hummus

Substitute cauliflower for the chickpeas, says CrossFit Journal, and you can still enjoy hummus, even if you're on a strict Paleo diet. Roast cauliflower florets tossed with salt, pepper, cumin and olive oil, then puree them with tahini, lemon juice, garlic and any additional desired seasonings such as paprika or curry powder and you've got a bean-free, Paleo-friendly hummus substitute. For a more substantial, but non-Paleo cauliflower hummus, puree roasted cauliflower with all the traditional seasonings and canned cannellini beans.

Zucchini-Based Hummus

If you're not a fan of cauliflower, you can make a hummus substitute with zucchini, says AmazingPaleo.com. Blend 4 cups of peeled and chopped zucchini along with 1/4 cup of olive oil and 3/4 cup tahini, then add traditional hummus seasonings. As with cauliflower-based hummus, you can increase the protein content by pureeing in beans; popular additions include white or pinto beans. If you do choose to add in beans, be prepared to include more liquid in the form of water or broth.

Almond-Based Hummus

For Paleo diet devotees, hummus isn't difficult to include in your diet if you use nuts like almonds instead of chickpeas. For a completely vegetarian and vegan hummus, Bodyworks Lifestyle recommends soaking almonds in water for up to 12 hours, then rinsing and pureeing them with tahini, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, salt, pepper and sun-dried tomatoes. For a slightly different, non-Paleo preparation, try pureeing almonds with bits of bread, garlic, lemon juice and water.

Hummus Prepared from Different Beans

Individuals who have allergies to chickpeas may need to eat hummus prepared with a different bean as the main ingredient. White beans are a common substitute for beans in hummus recipes, as are pinto or black beans. Understand that each substitution may require a different bean-to-liquid ratio.